CHICAGO, July 16, 2024 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it has selected the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA), and the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) to receive a $9.95 million grant in EPA’s Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products Grant Program.

PCI is the lead association in applying for the grant in October 2023. The grant will focus on updating the associations’ existing product category rule (PCR) and producing product-specific environmental product declarations (EPDs), developing an EPD generator, and providing training and support to member companies for producing EPDs. The product also allows for creating EPDs under the current PCR while an update is conducted.

Each association will also use its portion of the grant to defray the cost for its producer members to create or update their EPDs for precast concrete products.

“We are very excited to have been selected by EPA to receive this grant,” said PCI President and CEO, Bob Risser. “The resources in this grant will allow us to create tools for generating EPD’s that are specific to precast concrete and greatly accelerate our members’ ability to create them for their specific plants and products.  By combining efforts, we will gain efficiency, and avoid duplication of efforts. Together, we can help all our members move toward manufacturing more sustainable concrete products.”

PCI’s participation in this grant is just one way that PCI and its members have promoted sustainable construction and design. The industry is committed to continuously improving the sustainable aspects of its products and processes to make a greater contribution to sustainability.

“I am thrilled to see PCI, NPCA, and ACPA selected with the EPA grant, highlighting the industry's commitment to sustainability,” said Becky King, PCI Vice President of Marketing and Education. “Our dedication to promoting concrete’s role in sustainable practices continues to grow, and we look forward to advancing this important conversation with the EPA grant.”

Visit pci.org/howprecastbuilds/sustainability to learn more about how PCI and its members are working toward manufacturing more sustainable precast and prestressed concrete products.

Read the entire press release here.

About PCI

Founded in 1954, The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is a technical institute for the precast concrete structures and systems industry. PCI develops maintains, and disseminates the Body of Knowledge for the design, fabrication, and construction of precast concrete structures and systems. PCI develops consensus base standards, industry handbooks, quality assurance programs, certification, research and development projects, design manuals, continuing education, and periodical publications. PCI members include precast concrete producers, erectors, suppliers, professional engineers and architects, educators, students, and industry consultants who complement the wide range of knowledge of precast concrete. For more information, visit pci.org/howprecastbuilds.

About NPCA

Founded in 1965, NPCA is the international trade association representing and connecting manufacturers of plant-produced precast concrete products and companies that provide the equipment, supplies and services to make these products. Through education, leadership and networking opportunities, NPCA is dedicated to expanding the use of quality precast concrete and providing industry leadership in identifying challenges and opportunities. Visit precast.org.

About ACPA

The American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) is the spokesperson for the concrete pipe industry in all matters affecting the industry’s welfare. ACPA members contribute to the improvement of our environment by producing quality concrete pipe, engineered to provide a lasting and economical solution to drainage and pollution problems. For more information, visit concretepipe.org.